37 deaths, repeated arrests: Inside Niger’s unending mining crisis

Days after 37 alleged illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, mining activities have resumed in full swing across several locations in Niger State.

The death of the 37 detainees on September 17 followed NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas on September 15 and 16. The circumstances and cause of the incident remain under investigation.

The Federal Government has constituted an independent investigation committee.

Residents have lived with the activity for years as miners excavate around homes, churches, hotels and other properties.

But after the incident and the subsequent suspension of mining activities across the state, DAILY POST returned to some of the affected communities.

On Saturday, September 26, excavated plots, open holes and destroyed sections of fences were still visible around residential properties.

Residents said miners had continued returning to some locations despite repeated arrests and enforcement operations.

The persistence of the activity comes amid a fresh government directive.

On September 18, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago ordered the suspension of all mining activities across Niger State until further notice following the deaths of the 37 detainees.

The government also ordered the closure of mining activities at the Ema Ushishi site.

Two days later, Bago called for an executive order from the Presidency or the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to ban mining in locations identified as problematic across the state, saying stronger federal intervention was needed to enforce mining regulations.

Yet, around some residential areas visited by DAILY POST, the excavations remained.

The miners’ explanation for their return is tied to livelihood.

During interviews with some of the miners on September 16, a day before the deaths, some said they had no other means of making a living and would continue returning to the sites even after being arrested.

A 16-year-old miner, identified as Musa, not his real name, told DAILY POST that he came from Katsina State to engage in mining.

He said miners would continue returning because they had no alternative means of livelihood.

“Walahi, ba za mu daina ba (honestly, we will not stop),” Musa said in Hausa, adding: “As long as we don’t have another means of livelihood, we will keep coming back. Even the NSCDC or the police cannot stop us.”

DAILY POST also gathered from residents and miners that some of those operating in the affected areas came from outside Niger State.

While the miners say they depend on the activity for survival, residents say they are left to deal with the damage caused by excavations around their properties.

At one of the affected locations, a church owner told DAILY POST that he had spent substantial sums filling gullies created by mining around the building.

He said he would need more than N1 million to fill the excavations around the fence and other parts of the property.

Decrying the situation, he said, “Any time I come to the premises, there are illegal miners around our property who take water from our well or tanks and sit within the premises to wash the sand for gold.

“When you try to talk to them or chase them away, they turn around and attack you with dangerous weapons on your own property. The development is really sad.”

DAILY POST observed sections of the church fence that had been destroyed, as well as damaged fences belonging to other residents in the area.

The church owner also alleged that miners entered the church through the ceiling and took two large standing fans, musical instruments and other items.

He took DAILY POST correspondent around the premises and showed the damage to the ceiling.

Another resident, Mamuda, said the damage caused had created an additional financial burden for property owners.

The resident stated, “They are destroying our property looking for gold to make money and meet their needs, but they leave us with the burden of sourcing money to repair the damage. When will this come to an end?

“Today, it is about the loss of lives, and we are not happy about it. But has anyone also considered what we are going through because of their activities?”

The persistence of mining became more evident in the days following the deaths.

A local, Binta Bello told DAILY POST that on September 19 residents of Tunga saw many miners moving towards the mining area. She said some of them allegedly told residents that nobody could stop them.

Another resident, Moses, said he personally saw miners on September 20 across the area digging for gold.

DAILY POST visited the mining area on September 21 and observed miners excavating close to an NSCDC office while NSCDC personnel were present at their office.

However, there was no visible intervention during the period of observation.

On September 23, police operatives went into the mining area and arrested some miners, while others escaped.

Mining implements, including shovels, diggers and head pans, among others, were also removed from the area.

By September 26, residents said miners had returned to some of the locations.

A cycle authorities already knew about

The mining problem predates the September deaths.

In May, DAILY POST reported that illegal mining was contributing to wider social problems in parts of Minna, with residents identifying areas, including Maitumbi, Tunga, Kpakungu, Angwan-Daji, Limawa, Western Bypass, M.I. Wushishi Estate and Chanchaga, among others.

At the time, the police said raids were being carried out but acknowledged difficulties in keeping suspects from returning to the streets after prosecution.

In August, DAILY POST again reported that illegal mining had spread into residential areas, with residents complaining about excavations around homes and other properties.

The police said more than 100 suspected illegal miners had been arrested within the year, while the NSCDC said its Mining Marshals had arrested more than 100 suspected illegal miners and charged about 29 to court.

Police also said some suspects were later fined and returned to illegal mining.

The August report quoted Niger State Police spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, as saying, “They pay fines and later return to their illegal activities, thereby recycling them.”

The repeated arrests, however, have not stopped the activity in some of the affected communities.

Moses said an attempt was made to form an association of land and property owners to confront the problem, but the effort failed because they could not agree.

He said the idea came from the need for property owners to find a way of protecting their properties after miners repeatedly returned after being chased away.

Residents said they had filled some of the holes dug around their properties, only for miners to return and excavate the same areas again.

Environmental activist, Malang Ebrahim Kadiogu warned that continued mining around homes, hotels and other buildings could create more serious structural and environmental problems, adding that mining close to buildings could weaken foundations and contribute to gully erosion.

Kadiogu also warned that continued tension between miners and property owners could eventually lead to confrontation if authorities fail to address the problem, noting, “It’s unacceptable to destroy another person’s property in search of livelihood.”

He called for measures that would provide unemployed youths with alternative and productive means of livelihood.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, said police patrol teams had continued to monitor the mining locations.

“Recently, some arrests were made and we shall continue to patrol these locations,” he told DAILY POST.

Abiodun said the Command would work with the Ministry of Mineral Resources towards finding a permanent solution to the problem, while urging the ministry to take the necessary steps to address the situation.

DAILY POST also called and sent a text message to the Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hon. Muhammed Qasim Danjuma, seeking the ministry’s response to the continued mining activities despite the suspension, but he had not responded as of the time of filing this report.

For residents, however, the immediate concern remains the damage around their homes and properties.

The excavated plots are still visible.

Sections of fences or buildings have been destroyed, while residents say they are spending their own money to repair damage caused by mining.

At the same time, miners say they have little else to fall back on.

The deaths of 37 detainees have brought renewed scrutiny to mining enforcement in Niger State.

But the mining problem itself is older than the tragedy and, in some residential communities visited by DAILY POST, remains unresolved.

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